Mining apparatus



March 21, 1933. M. P. HOLMES MINING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7. 1929 y@ @2by@ @alf -N n A d Q f W\ www., I mw m w N NQ- S@ mw Ww w Y d. A

NIP'

www. x,

A@ @Mmwxm ed bodiment Patented Mar. 21, 1933 J iiiionnfrs r.. HoLMEs, orCLAREMONT, .NEW HAMrsniniii,A AssiGNon To 'SULLIVAN` i MACHINERYCOMPANY, A conroRnTIoN or--iirAssAcnUsErTsrl MINING APPARATUS napplicati@ mea February 7, i929',l serial Nafeaa'ase. j

"This invention relates to mining' apparatus and-'more particularly, butnotexclusively, pertains to coal mining apparatus of the Wheelvmountedbottom. cutter type adapted 5 tofoperate from the mine trackway.Anr'object 4o thisinvention is'to provide ani improved coal miningapparatus of the wheel mounted bottom cutter type having a pivotallymountedcutter bar and improved means for adjusting and swinging thecutter bar whereby the bottom 'of the kerf out therebymay formacontinuation of the plane of the-mine bottom. Another object is toprovide in a mining apparatus of theaforesaid n 5 typev improvedautomatic `bar swinging means whereby the angle'of the cutter barrelative to 'its pivotal support is; changed automatically as the.cutter bar isV swung from one side of the vmine trackwayto the other.l

29 A further object iseto provide an improved bott'om'cuttingcoal-mining machine of the pivoted cutter bar type having an improvedadjustable pivotal mounting whereby the pivotal axis ot" the cutter barmay be posi- '0 tioned outside the mine trackway toenable the vbar, tocut on the mine bottom and also; including means for changingautomatically the angle of the cutter bar relative toits pivotalmounting asthe cutter bar is swiuig b9 transversely across the end ofthe trackway.l

Yet another object is to provide improved;

means in a mining apparatus of the aforesaid type whereby the cutterbar, .as thesameis moved Vtransversely across the end. of the' 35 min-etrackway, mayautomatically assume various positionsV and move graduallythrough theangle necessary to lbring the cutter barintothese positionssothat the cut-- ter bar is disposed at opposite angles at op- "i positesides of theltrackway. vThese andV other objects and advantagesof thisinvention will,

however, hereinafter -more fully` appear.-

y YIn the accompanying drawing there is shown iter purposes of.illustration one em-Y which the invent-lon may assumeinv practice. A

Fig. 1 isa top-.plan view of the .improved mining apparatus. L x

`Fig. 2. is a side elevational view, partially "3 shown in sectiontoillustra-te details ofcou- V tin operation.

struction, of the mining apparatus shown in 1. Fig.` 3 is a diagrammaticview showingthe mininoapparatus during 'its transverse 'cut n thisvillustrative form 'ofthe Vinvention the same is shown embodied in acoal mining apparatus of the same general typeas that disclosed inmycopending application,` Serial No; 199,053, tiled vOctober 29,1917,and hav` ing incorporated therewith the plural speed' truck wheel drive'of the Levin Patent` 1,565,32' 6 and generally comprising a truck traine1 mounted on wheels 2 adapted to run a-longamine trackway and havingmounted thereon improved adjustable kerf cutting mechanism generallydesignated Il. Mount'- ed on the "truck frame 1 and having verticalfadjustability relative thereto is a support 5 y herein comprising anannular frame on 7 which a swivel support yor turntable 6 is.`

mounted for rotative movement about a vertical axis; TheV verticaladjusting means herein comprises vertical rotatable screws 7 supportedby upstanding brackets carried' by the truck frame and `havingycooperating therewithnon-rotatable nuts 8 carried by def pendingbrackets suitably secured to the annular swivel-1 supporting frame5,'the screws being rotated from amotor` 9 on the truck frame throughconnections similar to those described in the abovementioned patent andincluding' an endless g `chain 10 i engaging and `drivin-g chainsprockets 11 suitably .securedV to the lower ends-ofthe rotatableadjusting 8 screws 7. As is falsodescribed in the above' mentionedpatent, the mot-or 9 drives through a Vfriction controlled plural4speedV transmission Vmechanism generally designat-I ed 12'thetruck'wheels `This truck wheel driving mechanism includes chain- 1 and vsprocket connectionsl 13 Aand 11v connected to the truck wheel: axles.This" plural-speed trans-mission mechanism is adapted to effectE driveof the truck wheels to propel the appa r'atus .bodily alongthe minetrackway coin-fA paratively slowly during cutting and `at aF relatively.high/transport speed, gas isv -dee` scribed in the above mentionedpatent..f As these driving connections for thejturntable adjusting meansand the driving means for the truck wheels do not specifically enterinto this invention, further description of the` same is considered tobe unnecessary.

The kerf cutting mechanism 4 and the driving mechanism, therefor hereincomprises a motor supported on the turntable` 6 and suspended therefrombeneath the same. As illustrated, this motor 15 has se- Cured to itspower shaft 16 a spur pinion 17 which meshes with a spur'gear 18fixed-to a horizontal shaft`19. Secured to the inner end of the shaft 19is a bevel pinion 2O meshjournaled within a tubular bearing support 28carried on the outer end of and depending from an arm-like frame orbracket 29 secured to and projecting laterally from the swivel support6. Carried by the lower end of the tubular bearing support 27 isabracket 30 carrying an elongated plane cutter bar 31 about the outeredges of-which a usual endless cutter bit carrying cutter chain 32 isorbitally movable. The endless cutter chain 32engages and vis driven bya chain sprocket 33 suitably fixed to the lowerend of the verticaldriveshaft 26. Any Vsuitable clutch mechanism-,34V may be employed forconnecting the-spurv gear 18 to or disconnecting the same from theshaft19 thereby permitting the cutterchain 32 to be driven by the motor atwill or for disconnectingthe same therefrom while the motor continuouslyrotates.

Mechanism is provided for rotating the swivel support o-r turntable 6relative tothe supporting frame 5 and herein comprises an eccentricmember 35 suitably secured to the y vertical shaft 22 and suitablyconnected by an arm 36 to a pawl 37 which engages the teeth on a usualratchet wheel 38. Through this ratchet mechanism intermittent rotationis transmitted from the motor to a horizontal shaft 39 suitably gearedto a horizontal clutchA controlled winding drum 40 rotatably mountedabout a vertical axis on the swivel frame horizontal guide sheaves 42journaled on the c swivell frame and the free end of this cable isconnectible as Yat43 to an abutment member suitably secured to thesupporting frame 5. Usual pivoted latch mechanism 44 is providedengageable with a plurality of notches 45 formed on the outer edge ofthe swivel frame 6 for locking the latter to the frame 5 in its diferentadjusted positions about its pivotal axis. It Awill thus be seen thatwhen f the winding drum 40 isfconnected to the motorA through the abovedescribed ratchet and pawl mechanism the drum may be slowly rotated Vtowind in the cable 41 and as a result the swivel frame 6 is slowlyrotated relative `to the supporting frame 5.

The improved mechanism for changing automatically the angle of thecutter bar relative to its pivotal support as the cutter bar is swungtransversely across the end :of the mine trackway herein lcomprises astationary spur gear or'arcuate rack 46 arranged coaxially with thevertical shaft 22 and having its'depending hub portion suitably rigidlyfixed to a radial arm or'bracket 47 'suitably secured as by screwsy tothe rela n As iltively stationary frame member 5. lustrated,l meshingwith the stationary spur gear or rack 46 is a spur gear 48 journaled ona vertical stud projecting upwardly from the swivel frame 6, the spurgear 48 being rotatable about a vertical axis arranged parallel with andin advance ofthe axial line of the swivel frame or turntable 6. Meshingwith the spur gear 48 is a gear'segment 49 supported onv a sleeve 50carried by the bracket 29,this gear segment being swingable about thepivotal axis of the cutter bar.

therewith thecutter bar. As shown in Fig.

2, splined at 51 for axial sliding movement on Vthe upper end of thetubular bearing support 27 for the cutter bar is a clutch member 52,having clutchv teeth 53 engageable with clutchteeth '54 on the hub ofthe gear segment 49. vided with suitable shifting means including apivoted yoke 55 having a. suitable bperating handle 56. It will thus beseen that the clutchmember 52 may be moved upwardly from the positionshown in Fig. 2, to thereby release the cutter bar from the gear segment49 in such manner as to permit free swinging movement of the cutter barrelative to the gear .segment for purposes to be later described.

The operation of the improved mining ap- This clutch member isproparatus is as follows. The apparatus is propelled forwardly aboutthemine at a fast speed by the motor 9 through the transmissionmechanism 12,' the motor 9 being refversedwhen it isdesired to propeltheapparatus. rearwardly along the mine trackway; Whenrthe working faceis reachedth'e of the mine throughtheadjusting mechanism 7, 8.\for.theswivel support 6. *lVhen the cutter bar assumes a position withfitspivotal axis at one side ot the mine trackway and the cutter bar isdisposed on the mine bottom in thedottedline position indicated at A in,Fig. v3, the apparatus is moved longitu-V dinally along the mine.traclrway comparatively slowly thereby sumpingthe cutter bar beneathAthe coal to the full line position indicatedat B in that figure. Afterthe sump.-

ing cut has been completed, the cable 4l is arranged asindicated in Fig.l and. upon rotation of the winding drinn 40the cable is drawn in and.the swivel support 6 for the cutter bar 3l is swung about itsaxis,.thereby moving the cutter bar transversely -in its plane acrossthe end ot the mine trackway from the full line position B in Fig. 3 tothe dotted line position indicated at C in that figure. As the cutterbar is swung transversely across the face the meshing engagement of thegears 46, 48, and49 causes the cutter bar to be automatically angledrelativev toL its pivotal support, the axes of the turn table, barpivot, andk the longitudinal axis ofV the cutter bar lying in the samestraight line as the parts assume their intermediate position andthecutter bar thereafter being angled in the opposite direction as theparts approach theV dotted line position C shown in Fig. 3. Afteithetransverse cut has been completed, the apparatus is moved bodilyrearwardly along the mine trackway to withdraw the cutter bar from thecoal tothe position indicatedl at Din Fig. 3. rllhe cutter barthereafter is elevated from the mine bottom and returned to its centraltransport position `as indicated in full lines in Fig. l. It will beevident that it it is desired ltoswing the cutter bar relative to theautomatic bar swinging mechanism it is only Vnecessary to release the.clutch 52l thereby disconnecting the bar support 27 from the gearsegment 49,. it being possible by releasing this clutch to vary theinitial angular position of the cutter bar relative. These and other opto the swivel support. erations of the improved mining'apparatus will beclearly apparentto those `skilled in the art. v Y

. As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improvedv coal.mining appara'- i tus is-provided having any improved adjustablepivotaljsupport Vfor. the cutter. bar

whereby the latter maybe positionedon the minebottom outsidethe minetraclway. It will further benoted thatan improved'bar swinging and`positioningmechanism is provided whereby-the angle of the cutter barrelative-to its; pivotal. supportis changed automatically as the cutterbar is swung transversely inits plane across lthe end of the minetrackway.V Ity willA still further be i noted that an improved automaticbar swinging mechanism is provided which is 'of an exceedingly simpleand rugged character readily adapted to be applied to a mining apparatusof standard design and construction, and which is especially adapted'to.

withstand the `severe conditions of yservice encountered in mines.

Vhile there is in this application specifi? cally described one formwhich the invenV tion may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis form of Ythe same is shown for purposes of illustration and thatthisl in#4 vention may bemoditied and embodied in various other formswithout departing from* itsspirit, or the scope of the appended claims.What lVV claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Yl. In a miningapparatus, the combina-` tion of a support, a secondsupport mountedl on saidf'irst support tor rotation upon a verticalaxis, kerf cutting mechanism supported entirely by said first supportduring the cutting operationandincluding a cutter bar piv-` otallymounted on said second support for swinging movement in its plane oicutting upon an axis parallel to the'axis of .rotation 'F swingingmovement ot said Vcutter bar about the axis of rotation of said support"at a.

cutting speed to causeV said bar to effect its swinging cut, meansoperatively connected to,

said supports andsaid. cutter'bar ,for swing#l ing automatically saidcutter bar upon its own pivotal axis relative to said second sup.-

port as said secondV support is rotated, said automatic bar swingingmeans including.

transmission connections operatively con-` nccted to astationary elementon said iirst,

support and to said cutter bar, and selfcontained power operated meansrsolely supl ported bysaid first supportfor moving the apparatus .bodilyin opposite directions at a `cutting speed toy eiect sumping- ,andwith-A drawal movements of said cutter bar.

-2. In a mining apparatus,.the combina'- tion ot a support, a secondsupport mounted onsaid first support vfor rotation upon av verticalYaxis, hert cutting mechanism including'a cutter bar pivotally mounted onsaid second support for swinging movement upon an axis parallel to theaxis of rotation of 'said second support, means for effecting rotation.of said second support upon its axis of rotation to effect swingingmovement of said cutter bar about the axisrof rotation of said secondsupport, and meansA operatively connected to said supports and saidcutter bar for swinging automatically said cutter bar upon its ownpivotal axis relative p to said second support as said second support isrotated, said automatic bar swinging means including a gear membersecured to said first support, a `rotatable gear carried eration andincluding a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said second support forswinging movement upon an axis parallel to they axis of rotation of saidsecond support, selfcontained power operated means solely supported bysaid supports for effecting rotation of said second support upon itsaxis of rotation to effect swinging movement of said cutter bar aboutthe axis of rotation of said support at a cutting speed to cause saidbar i to effect its swinging cut and including a motor and mechanismdriven thereby carried by said second support and rotatable therewith,means operatively connected to said supports and said cutter-bar forswinging automatically said cutter bar upon its own axis relative tosaid secondv supports as said second support is rotated, andself-contained power operated means solely supported by said firstsupport for moving the apparatus bodily in opposite directions at -acutting speed to eiect sumping and withdrawal movements of said cutterbar.

4. In a mining apparatus, awheeled support movable along aminetracliway, a second support mounted on said first support for rotationupon a vertical axis, ker'f cutting mechanism on said second support andsupported entirely by said wheeled support during the cutting operationand including al pivoted cutter bar'mounted for swinging movementrelative to said second support upon an axis parallel with the axis ofrotation of said second support, self-contained power operated meanssolely supported bysaid supports for'effecting rotation of said secondsupport relative Vto saidiirst support to effect positioning of said barpivot outside the trackway with said cutter bar disposed to cut a kerfat the level of the mine bottom and for swinging said cutter bar acrossthe end ofthe trackway at la cutting speed to effect its swinging cut,means for swinging automatically said cutter bar upon its own pivotalaxis relative to said second support as said-second support is rotatedto eiiect 'swinging movement of said cutter bar across the end of thetrackway, said automatic bar swinging means including transmissionconnections `'operatively lconnected to a stationary element of saidfirst support and .to said cutter bar,Y and self-contained poweroperated meanssolely supported by said wheeled support for driving thesupport wheels to propel the apparatus bodily along the .r mine trackwayin opposite directions at acutting speed to effect sumping andwithdrawal vmovements of" said cutter bar. Y

5. In a mining apparatus, afwlieeled support movable along'a minetraclway, a second' support mounted on said first support for rotationupon avertical axis, kerf cutting mechanism on said second support andentirely supportedby said wheeled supportV 'during the cutting operationand including apivoted cutter bar mounted for swinging movementrelative'V to said second support upon an axis parallel with the axis ofrotation of said second support,-self-contained power operated meanssolely supported/by said supports and including a motor and connectionsdriven thereby carried by said second supportl and rotatabletherewithlfor .effecting rotation of said second support relative tosaid first support to effect positioning of said bar pivot outside thetrackway with said cutter `bar disposed to cut a lerf at the level ofthe mine bottom and for swinging said cutter Vbar across the end ofl thetrackway at a cutting speed to effect its swinging cut, means forswinging automaticallyfsaid cutter bar upon its own pivotal axisrelative to said second support as said second support is rotated toe'ii'ect swinging movement of said cutter bar across the end of thetrackway, and self-'contained power operated means solelyvsup-ported bysaid wheeled support for driving the supportwheels to propel tlieapparatus bodily' along the mine traclrway in opposite -directions at acutting speed to effect sumping and withdrawalr movements of :saidcutter bar.

6. In a mining`apparatus, the combina` tion of a support, a secondsupport mounted on said first support4 for rotation'about a verticalaxis, kerf Vcutting mechanism including a cutter bar pivotally mountedon said second support for swinging movement upon an axis parallelto theaxis of rota-tion of said second support, means for effecting rotationofsaid second support upon its axis to effect swinging movement ofsaid'cutter bar about the axis ofv said second support, and meansoperatively connected to said supports land said cutter bar for swingingautomatically said cutter bar upon its own pivotal axis relative to saidsecond support as said second support is rotated, said automatic barswinging means including intermeshing gearing connecting said cutter barand said irst sup port and said gearing eecting swinging of said cutterbar upon its pivot as said second support is rotated. 7. In a. miningapparatus, the combinatio of a support, a second support mounted on saidfirst support for. rotation upon a vertical axis, lierf cuttingmechanism supported by said first support and including a cutterv barpivotally mounted on said second support for swinging movement in itsplane of cutting upon an axis parallel to the axisoi' rotation of saidsecond support, power operated means for effecting rotation of saidsecond support upon its axis lto elect swinging movement of said cutterbar about the axis of rotation of said second support at a cutting speedto cause said bar to effect its swinging cut, means operativelyconnected to said supports and said cutter bar forI swing ing`automatically ysaid cutter bar upon its own pivotal axis relative tosaid second support as said second support is rotated, said automaticbar swinging means including transmission connections operatively con-ynected to a stationary element on said sup port and to said cutter bar,and power operated means for moving the apparatus bodily in oppositedirections at a cutting speed to effect sumping and withdrawal movementsof said cutter bar. i

8. In a mining apparatus, a wheeled support movable along a minetrackway, a second support mounted on said rst support for rotation upona vertical axis,`kerf cutting mechanism mounted on said second supportand including a pivoted cutter barl mounted for swinging movementrelative to said second support upon an axis Vparallel with the axis ofrotation of said second support, power operated means for effectingrotation of said second support relative to said first support toeiiectpositioning of said bar pivot outside the trackway with said cutter bardisposed to cut a ker at the level ofthe' mine bottom and for swingingsaid cutter bar across the end of the trackway at a cutting speed toeffect its swinging cut, means for swinging automatically said cutterbar upon its own pivotal'axis relative to said second support as saidsecond support is rotated to effect swinging movement of said cutter baracross the end of the trackway, said autofeet sumping and Withdrawalmovements vor said cutter bar. i e

9. Inal mining apparatus, a wheeled sup-l port movable along a minetrackway, a second support mounted on said iirst support y for rotationupon a vertical axis, kerf cutting mechanism on said second support andincluding a pivoted cutter bar mounted forV swinging movement relativeto said second support upon an axis parallel to the axis of rotation ofsaid second support, power 0perated means including a motor andconnections driven thereby carried by said second ybar upon its o-wnypivotal axisrelative to said second support as said-second support isrotated to effect swinging movement of said cutter bar `across the endof the trackway, `and power operated means for driving the supportwheelsto propel the apparatus bodily along the mine trackway in oppositedirections Vat a'cutting speed to effect sumping and withdrawalmovements of said cutter bar. Y

VIn testimony p `MORRIS' P. HOLMES.

whereof I aiix my signatures.

matic bar` swinging means including'transn mission connectionsoperatively connected to a stationary element of said rst support and tosaid cutter bar, and power operated means for driving the support wheelsto propel the apparatus bodily along the mine trackway in oppositedirections'at a cutting speed to ef-

